What’s the consensus on poly coated Bullets through a Mac suppressor? I see conflicting info on if they lead up. Alor is article sinsee are several years old or more and I know the coating have improved a lot in the last two years
Poly Blue Bullets through MAC suppressor?
- Thread starter ktk120
- Start date
My personal experience is, it really matters how they are loaded. I've shoot powder coated bullets and Hi-Tek bullets. If the coating is shaved when loading, they will put lead in the can or air. If they are loaded right, they are better than open-back jacketed bullets in reducing lead. If you load your own or buy loaded ammo, pull a few projectiles and see if there is coating missing. Coated bullets do smoke more but if they are loaded right, the smoke is not lead vapor.
My experience shooting a commercial Hi Tek coated bullet hasn’t been very favorable.
Here is a borescope picture after running some through a new, clean barrel.
I did that after getting so much buildup in a can that a bullet wouldn’t pass through without rubbing the crud. I’m probably lucky I didn’t have a baffle strike that could have wrecked the can.
And yes, I have pulled several bullets to ensure I was not scraping the coating when loading them.
Here is a borescope picture after running some through a new, clean barrel.
I did that after getting so much buildup in a can that a bullet wouldn’t pass through without rubbing the crud. I’m probably lucky I didn’t have a baffle strike that could have wrecked the can.
And yes, I have pulled several bullets to ensure I was not scraping the coating when loading them.
So yeah, I don’t shoot poly-coated bullets through cans any more. And once I’m rid of what I have on hand, I don’t plan to buy any more. Not worth it.
There was some thought about getting a better fit for the bullet to the barrel. A “loose” bullet may allow some gas to blow past, burning the coating off. Or at least that’s one theory. So I did an experiment. I didn’t want to crud up another silencer, so I used a Bowers muzzle brake with a removable end cap. I weighed the end cap before and after shooting a number of coated bullets through the brake. I then installed a new end cap and repeated, using a larger bullet. Bullets were .356” and .358” diameters.
The gun used was my Group Uzi with a threaded IMI barrel. 400 rounds of each bullet type were shot for each run. Most shots were semi-auto and short bursts. The barrel was cleaned of buildup between the different loads.
Results are shown below. The .356” bullets left 2.5x more deposit weight than the .358” bullets. But the larger bullets were still leaving some gunk behind in the barrel and comp.
So I repeated the test again. His time with Berry’s copper plated bullets. The result was negligible buildup: 2.2 grains measured weight increase.
So yeah, I’m sticking with jacketed and copper plated bullets in my silencers.
There was some thought about getting a better fit for the bullet to the barrel. A “loose” bullet may allow some gas to blow past, burning the coating off. Or at least that’s one theory. So I did an experiment. I didn’t want to crud up another silencer, so I used a Bowers muzzle brake with a removable end cap. I weighed the end cap before and after shooting a number of coated bullets through the brake. I then installed a new end cap and repeated, using a larger bullet. Bullets were .356” and .358” diameters.
The gun used was my Group Uzi with a threaded IMI barrel. 400 rounds of each bullet type were shot for each run. Most shots were semi-auto and short bursts. The barrel was cleaned of buildup between the different loads.
Results are shown below. The .356” bullets left 2.5x more deposit weight than the .358” bullets. But the larger bullets were still leaving some gunk behind in the barrel and comp.
So I repeated the test again. His time with Berry’s copper plated bullets. The result was negligible buildup: 2.2 grains measured weight increase.
So yeah, I’m sticking with jacketed and copper plated bullets in my silencers.
Great test Garrett. I did the same with my Blackout. Sizing and coating made a big difference. I don't order Leatherman bullets anymore. But my own cast and applied Powder by the Pound poly coated bullets work really well now. I still buy Berrys for the same reason. Much easier, cleaner and faster to load.
TheColtCollector
UZI Talk Life Member
I get crazy build up of lead in my suppressors but fuck it’s worth the cost savings. I cast and PC the bullets myself. I do the dip a couple times then chisel off the rest
Nice build up test. I go couple thousand rounds then clean the suppressors.
Nice build up test. I go couple thousand rounds then clean the suppressors.
Garret did you ever recover the bullets? I would love to see what they looked like. I did testing with recovered bullets to understand alloy hardness, coating, sizing and loading variations. Swimming pools are awesome for more than swimming. There is just too much variation. It is not easy. Plated is just easier and faster and I do most of my reloading with them.
A new world was opened to me when I joined http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php. I spent a year reading about the science and art of casting, loading and coating bullets. I am not an expert and it my be a while before I feel practically competent. One of the things about coated bullets is barrels should be completely cleaned to have the best bore protection. Switching between jacketed, plated and coated bullets is not the best practice.
I spent months of frustration trying to make a bullet that would not foul my 300 blackout. Turned out my Seekins Precision barrel's was out of spec, bore too small. They sent me a replacement. I also want to give Leatherhead Bullets (now a new company) a big thank you for working with me on that. They sent me many different Hi-Tek coated bullets for testing. Another big thank you to many members of other boards who helped.
Here are some teaser pictures from the testing.
Coated bullets are not the best solution but they can be another option, Benefits are cost, easier cleaning, less friction, much less barrel wear, cooler barrels. I'm sure the technology will get better as more manufacturers start selling them.
A new world was opened to me when I joined http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php. I spent a year reading about the science and art of casting, loading and coating bullets. I am not an expert and it my be a while before I feel practically competent. One of the things about coated bullets is barrels should be completely cleaned to have the best bore protection. Switching between jacketed, plated and coated bullets is not the best practice.
I spent months of frustration trying to make a bullet that would not foul my 300 blackout. Turned out my Seekins Precision barrel's was out of spec, bore too small. They sent me a replacement. I also want to give Leatherhead Bullets (now a new company) a big thank you for working with me on that. They sent me many different Hi-Tek coated bullets for testing. Another big thank you to many members of other boards who helped.
Here are some teaser pictures from the testing.
Coated bullets are not the best solution but they can be another option, Benefits are cost, easier cleaning, less friction, much less barrel wear, cooler barrels. I'm sure the technology will get better as more manufacturers start selling them.
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IndustrialRescue
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2012
- Messages
- 696
Get your can CLEAN, and then do the silicone treatment. Will make cleaning way easier.
TheColtCollector
UZI Talk Life Member
Honestly after I get a bunch of lead in my barrel I shoot it out with FMJ rounds
Here are more pictures proving how different coatings and coating processes are not equal. Keep in mind that if you can see the lands cut through the coating, there will be lead. I personally think HiTek coated bullets are more likely to cause problems that powder coated bullets. More people sell HiTek because it is easier, faster looks cleaner than PC. I did notice that Federal is selling the PC now.
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